Bozo very much likes to learn. All sorts of things. Mama says he is learning nonsense. Ata just waves his hand. On the farm a boy has to know how to drive a tractor, shovel in the stable, chop wood. Books are fine. Ata also liked to read. But soon there was no time left.
But now these are different times. Now a farmer has to know something, not only produce food. He has to know how to sell, he has to know languages, he has to know the Internet, and Face, and such things. That is why he says: leave him. Let him read. So it will be nicer for him.
And Bozo reads about a flying dog. Or a fox? Or something like that. He reads and reads and thinks to himself. This is nothing. At our place, the flying dog is Ruby.
And it was like this. Mama likes big dogs. Great Danes. Those are such big friendly dogs. Many, many years ago they were not so friendly. They were bred for hunting wild pigs. Their ears were cut so the pigs could not bite them. And for pigs they are still poison. If Ruby smells a wild pig, eh eh eh eh. Then everyone shouts. Ruby Ruby Ruby, and she does nothing.
Otherwise Ruby is a friendly dog. Fast, strong, black, loyal, smells good. The best, biggest, strongest dog.
A few years ago, when Bozo was three years old, they had another dog. Also a Great Dane. But she had a sick heart and died. Everyone cried. Mama cried. Bozo cried. Ata also shed a tear, but that was because it was so hot and it was not a tear, but sweat. Ata does not know how to cry.
After some time they went to get another dog. There were many of them there. Only Great Danes. Grey, white, spotted. Mama sits and has Bozo on her lap. And the dogs around her. She talks with the lady. The lady says: this one is lively, this one is beautiful, this one will be fast ... There in the back, one small black dog. Nothing will come of this one, says the lady. She always hides. Maybe something is wrong with her. Then the small black dog comes to Mama. Bumps Bozo’s leg. And Bozo looks into her brown eyes and ... and ... and ... Mama, take this one.
And Mama says: the lady says that something is wrong. Bozo says: I also do not push myself forward. I am also in the back. I also wait. But this dog is so warm. Mama, she will be ours. And Mama says to the lady: can we take her for a few days? Maybe she will be ours. And the lady says: I will give you a good price, all right.
And so Ruby the flying dog came home to the farm. Mama fell in love with her right away. Mama into the kitchen, Ruby after her. Mama into the bedroom, Ruby after her. Mama into the stable, Ruby after her, Ferdo the goat was then still a very small kid and Mama fed him with a bottle. Ruby is completely crazy about Mama. Well yes, Bozo is all right, but in the world for Ruby it is like this: first there is Mama. She is the leader of the pack. Then there is Ata. He drives everything away. Then there are the young ones, Bozo and Ferdo. That is right. Mama gives food, Mama gives water, Mama is the boss.
Ruby liked to curl up at the edge of the bed. The bedroom is upstairs, in the attic. Steep stairs lead to it. Mama was fiddling with something, and Ruby fell asleep. Then she opens her eyes. Where is Mama? In the yard.
In the bedroom there is a window, an attic one, so that a person can lean out through it. Mama leaves it open, so there is more air, she says. And Ruby hears through the window that Mama is in the yard. And she thinks to herself: there, I am going to the yard. Ruby is three months old, and has no experience. But she knows how to jump, she takes a run-up and and and and. Ruby noooooo. Nooooo. She jumps through the window
But the window is high above the ground. Ruby no longer has ground. Bozo sees her. And screams. Nooooooooo.
Ruby stretches out like an Olympic diver. One leg forward. Head to the side. Boom. She falls on the concrete, but like a wheel. Left leg, right shoulder, head to the side, over the back, right leg. And lies still.
Oh no no Ruby Ruby Ruby shouts Bozo. Mama shouts. Cries. Ata comes to the dog and looks at her. The dog opens her eyes. Ata says, I am going for a board. He puts Ruby on the board and into the car. He drives away.
Bozo cries and cries. His dog. And cries.
And then, when he can no longer cry, he sits under the apple tree and thinks about all the things he and Ruby could do. Run and search. But now she will surely die. If he fell from so high, he would be dead. Anyone would be.
The car is coming back. Ata opens the back door and lifts the dog. Her paw is wrapped. Ata says: this is impossible. She only broke a toe. Incredible. Mama laughs and cries at the same time.
And Bozo says: this is my flying dog Ruby.